Building construction



Oct. 13, 1931. E. GEIGER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed May l. 1928 ...-1 INVENTOR l Z'rms Gef'yer ATroRNEY Patatas. oa.V i3, 1931 msm amena, or InvINafroN, Nn'w Jansma' BUILDING coNsrzaUcrIoN Applicativi med'ilay `nicas. stratiV No. en ,isa f The present invention is concerned with improvements in building structures, being particularly designed to improve the construction of elevator gara s of the general 5, character disclosed in my -atent No. 1,636,

600 issued on the 19th day of July 1927.

In its broader aspects, however, the invenf tion is applicable to practicallyI an building V in which a bank of elevator sha tways are 1o utilized or in which endless chains of con# nected movable storage compartments are moved in veiical shaftways and throu h horizontal cr ssways connecting the sha ways. s i

An object of the invention is to provide a building of this general character designed to promote the ready extinction of a fire occurring in an elevatorcar or occurring in any'7 of the endless series of connected movable 2o compartments.

With this in view, the lower end of each elevator shaftway, or in the case of an end'- lessf series of movable compartments, the lower cross space connecting each pair of vertical shaftwaysmay constitute a well completely surrounded by tire-proof walls. Preferably a fire inspection tunnel extends transversely through all of the wells and is disposed without the path of travel of the eleeo vators in or through the wells. This tunnel permits the convenient inspection of any elevator or convenient observation of the conveyors of an endless chain as they pass through the lower cross space which connects their shaftways. It is also preferably equipped with means for discharging a heavy re extinguishing gas through the tunnel walls into any well. V y

v By virtue of this arrangement when an elevator ire occurs the well-like bottom of the elevator shaft is quickly iilled with a heavy fire extinguishing gas and the elevator is dropped into the well wherethe fire is smothered by the gas.

trolled valves for re ulating the discharge of ire extinguishing uid into the wells.

. The arrangement is particularly adapted 50 for installations where series ofV storage In constructions such as that disclosed in my prior patent AImay use remotely concabins mounted on endless conveyors are utilized, since a fire occurring 1n any cabin may be put out by Asimply setting in motion the endless cabin supporting conveyor chains or the like so that the burning cabin is quickl passed througih the gas filled well and the re extinguislie rovide a building structure vention are to re' control features are emin vwhich the bodied without material increase in the cost of the building and without causing any radical change in the general building design.

With the above noted and other objects -in The invention may be more fullylunder stood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary transverse sectional -View through the lower end of an elevator garage constructed in accordance with the invention, this view being taken approximately on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig 24 is another fragmentary sectional View through the lower end of the building taken approximately at right angles to Fig. 1 on the line 22 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing the remote control mechanism for the fire extinguishin valves. i

The rawings are for the most part diagrammatic an reference may be had to my prior patent for the structural d etails of the general type of The building designated at 10is provided at opposite sideswith banks `of vertical shaftways 11 inwhich the duplexelevator cabins 12 run. An endless series of these cabins are mounted-on an endless chain (not shown) which travels in suitable guideways 13. The cabins of the' endless series pass from one shaftway 11 to the opposite shaftway 11 through crossways or spaces 14 arranged at the bottom of the building. The upper crossways are not shown here but may be seen vin Other and more generalobjects of the ingarage building illustrated. y

my prior patent. rIhe lower crossways are divided from each other by vertical partition the upper and lower crossways 14 may be subdivided if desired into anyv suitable number of floors such as the floors 16, 17, 18. Preferably the entrance is through a driveway 19 at the street level. This driveway communicates with the car receiving ioor 18 by a ramp 20 and with the car delivery floor 17 by a ramp 21. Additional ramps 22, 23 may lead from the iioors 17, 18 to superjacent or subjacent floors 24, 25 if desired.

The fire inspection tunnel 26 of the present invention is preferably arranged at a level with the lower floor 25 and is accessible either by a'ramp 22 or by a stairway 27 from the car receiving Hoor. This tunnel intersects the well-forming partition walls 15 and is provided with inspection windows 28 through which any well and the cabins passing therey through may be'readily observed. The floor 18 serves as the ceiling of the tunnel.

Inasmuch as a fire in one of the elevator cabins of the train would prove disastrous by spreading to the cabins above it unless rapidly checked I have devised means for readily converting any of the wells intor a gas filled ire extinguishing chamber. Thus if a ire occurs in one of the cars, the train of cabins may be readily manipulatedto bring the affected cabin into the gas filled well where the fire will be immediately extinguished.

For purposes of illustration I have shown a tank 29 of heavy fire extinguishing gas mounted in the tunnel 26, and leading from this tank a pipe 30 connected to valved discharging nozzles`31 which pass through the v floor of the tunnel and discharge into the wells.l The valves for these nozzles are pref-r erably remotely controlled as for instance from a central control station 32 arranged on the main driveway 19. In Fig. 3 I have diagrammatically shown the control mechanism as consisting of a valve operating solenoid 33 in circuit with a suitable source of energy 34 closed by a switch 35 on a switch board 36, within the control station 32.

It may be noted that the control station 32- will also include means for remotely controlling the movement of the elevator cabins so that when a re warning is received the burning cabin may be readily moved intoits well and the well filled with fire extinguishing gas. Various gases might be used in this connection one example beingv carbon dioxide gas.

f From the foregoing descriptionI it will be apparent that the fire inspection tunnel and its associated mechanism is particularly adapted for use in connection with elevator garages of an endless chain type. In its broader aspects, however, the invention is applicable to any building in which a series of elevator shaftways are provided and means is desired for extingcishing ires in elevators. lt will be obvious also that lwhile I have referred to the present construction asa garage structure it might with slight modifications serve various 'other urposes where goods of any kind are stored) in movable compartments or the like on endless flexible devices.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described a device in which the several features of this invention are embodied and which device in its action attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction` and many apparently Widely different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitin sense.

claim:

1. In a building structure including parallel vertical shaftways for an endless chain of storage elevators, and acrosswa in the bottoml of the building through w ich the elevators of the chain pass from one shaftway to the other, an inspection tunnel extending transversely of said crossway and vdisposed out of the path of travel of the elevators.

2. In a buildingstructure a plurality of parallel vertical elevator shatways, the lower ends of said shaftways being separated from each other by vertical partition walls and an inspection tunnel extending transversely of said shaftways, having windows therein affording a view of all of said shaftways.

3. In a building structure 'a plurality of (parallel vertical elevator shaftways the lower ends of said shaftways being separated from each other by vertical partition walls, an inspection tunnel extending transversely of said shaftways, having windows therein adording a view of all of said shatways and valved ire extinguishing vnozzles projecting through said tunnel into the walled lower ends of said shaftways adapted to discharge a heavy. fire extinguishing gas into said shaftways. y

4. In a building structure a plurality of parallel vertical elevator shaftways, the lower ends of said shaftways being separated from each other by vertical partition walls, an inspection tunnel extending transversely of said shaftways having windows therein affording a view of all of said shaftways valved fire extinguishing nozzles projecting tinguisher disposed in said tunne through said tunnel into the walled lowerl ends of saidA shaftways, a supply 9 parallel elevator shaftways, crossways at the top and bottom of the building throu h which elevators are adapted to be moved rom one shaftway to the other, the lower of said crossways and the lower endsof said shaftways being defined by vertical well-forming walls, an inspection tunnel extending transversely7 through said wells and means for assing a lire extinguishing fluid through said tunnel wall into said well.

7. In a building structure a plurality of pairs of spaced verticalshaftways, and crossways connecting said shaftways at the top and bottom, the lower crossways being separated by vertical partition walls from each other, and an inspection tunnel extending transversely through said walls and having windows therein -permitting inspection of said crossways.

8. In'a building structure a plurality of pairs of spaced verticalshaftways, and crossways connecting said shaftways at the top and bottom, the lower crossways being separatedby vertical partition walls from each other, a transverse inspection tunnel extending through said walls and having windows thereinpermitting inspection of any of said crosswaysy'and means for passing a lire extinguishing gas through the tunnel into any of said crossways.

9. In an elevator garage structure, or the,

like, a building providing at each side a parallel series of shaftways, crossways connecting opposite shaftways at the top and bottom, each pair of shaftways, and associated crossways accommodatingv an endless connected chain of storage elevators, the elevators of the chain being adapted to pass from one vertical shaftway to the other through said crossway, and an inspection tunnel extending transversely through all of said lower crossways out of the path of travel of the elevators having windows therein affording a view of all of said elevators as they passI through said crossways.

10. In an elevator garage structure or the like, a buildin providing at each side aparallel series of s a-ftways, crossways connected opposite shaftways at the top and bottom each pair o f shaftways and associated crossways accommodating any endless connected chain of stor cal shaftway to the other through said crossways, and an inspection tunnel extending transversel throu h all of said lower crossways out o the pat of travel of the elevators e elevators the elevators of the chain being a apted to pass from one vertitherethrough having windows therein aording a view of all of said elevators as they pass through saidv crossways, said lower crossways and the lower ends ofthe shaftways which communicate therewith being separated from laterally adjacent crossways and shaftwa'ys by vertical lireproof defining .wells vthrough which said tunnel runs.

artitions 11. In an elevator garage structure or the I like, av building providing at each side a parallel series of shatways crossways -connecting opposite shaftways at the ztop and bottom, each pair of shaftways and associated crossways accommodating an endless l connected chain of storage elevators the ele-` vators of the chain being adapted to pass from one vertical shaftway vto the other through said crossways, an inspection tunnel extending transversel through all-'of said lower crossways out of t e pathof travel of the elevators therethrough having` windows therein affording a view of all of said elevators as they pass through said crossways, said lower crossways and theI lower ends of the shatways being separated from laterally adjacent crossways and shaftways by vertical fire-proof partitions defining wells through which said tunnel extends, and

means for optionally discharging a'iire extinguishing gas into any of said wells.

12. In an elevator garage structure or the like, a building roviding at each side a par-l allel series of s aftways crossways connecting the tops and bottoms of opposite shaftways, each pair of shaftways and `associated `l crossways accommodating an endless connected chain of storage elevators, theelevators of the chain being ada ted topass from one vertical shaftway to t e'othenthrou'gh said crossways, an inspection tunnel extending transversely through all of said lower crossways out of the path of travel of the elevators having windows therein aiording a view ofsaid elevators as they pass through l said crossways said lower crossways and the lwer ends of the shaftways being separated from laterally adjacent crossways and shaftways b vertical fire-proof partitions delining we ls through which said tunnel extends and means for optionally discharging a iire extinguishing gas into any'of said wells saidmeans comprismg nozzles extending through.

the walls of said tunnel into said wells.

- 13. In an elevator' garage structure or the like, a building providing at each side-a parallel series of shaftways crossways connecting the tops and bottoms of opposite `shaftbeing horizontally subdivided near its lowerend into oors and the ceiling of said inspection tunnel being formed by the lowermost of said floors.

14. In a building for storage purposes ofl the character in which endless series of storage conveyors travel orbitally around a central space and in which spaced vertical shattways and upper and lower connecting crossways house the endless series of conveyors, a fire inspection tunnel extending transversely through the lower crossways. v

15. In a building for storage purposes of the character in which endless series of storage conveyors travel orbit-ally around a central space, and in which spaced vertical shaftl ways and upper and lower connecting crossways house theendless series of conveyors, a fire inspection tunnel extending transversely through the lower crossways and said lower crossways being separatedrom-each other by vertical {ireproof artition walls.

16. In a building tor storage purposes of the character in which endless series of Storage conveyors travel orbitally around a central space, andin which spaced vertical shaft` ways and upperand lower connecting crossways house the endless series of conveyors, a

ire inspection tunnel extending transversely through the lower crossways and said lower crossways being separated from each other by vertical ireproof partition walls, said tunnel housing a supply of fire extinguishing iiuid and having valve controlled nozzles connected to said supply and projecting through. the tunnel walls into the lower crossways.`

17. In a building for storage purposes in which an endless series of storage conveyors "travel orbitally on an endless flexible cartravel in an orbital path and vertical shaftrer, and in which parallel pairs of vertical shaftways house the conveyors and the conveyors at theends of the shatways are passed from one shattway to the other, vertical walls defining wells enclosing the bottom of the shaftways of each pair and a ire inspection tunnel extending transversely through said wells.

18. In a building for storage purposes in.

which an endless series of storage conveyors ways connected by horizontal crossways house tsaar/ev the endless series of conveyors, a fire inspection tunnel extending transversely through one of said crosswa s.

Signed at New orlr, in the county of New 'Y York and Statel of New York this 28th day o y of april, A. n. i928.

, nnnsfr enteran. 

